Wrapping device and operating method for same

ABSTRACT

A wrapping device guides an unwinder of a film web from a film roll to be unwound along a revolving path about a body to be wrapped. A guide path is formed by at least two separate motion systems which in each case are able to move the unwinder in at least two directions. Each of the motion systems has an actuatable mounting device for engaging a mounting flange of the unwinder, and the unwinder has two separate mounting flanges. The wrapping device has a computer by way of which the guide path of the unwinder along a freely determinable revolving path is generatable. The unwinder after a partial revolution of a motion system is transferable to the next motion system, such that a full path of the revolving path is generatable by the motion systems.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of German application DE 10 2015 103 878.1, filed Mar. 17, 2015; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a wrapping device and to a method for operating the same.

In order for products of the metalworking, plastics, timber, or tire industry to be protected from damage during transit and storage, the products at the end of a production line are wrapped with packaging materials such as films, non-woven fabrics, crepe paper, or corrosion-prevention materials. In order for the wrapping operation to be configured to be economical, wrapping machines are employed to this end. One known wrapping device disclosed in German utility model DE 699 01 667 T2 has an oval guide path for an unwinder of a film web from a film roll to be unwound. It is required for wrapping bodies having continuous openings, such as tires or rolls of metal strips, so-called coils, for instance, that the unwinder is capable of being moved in a controlled manner through the opening, to which end the known guide path has to be in two parts so as to be able to be routed through the opening in the body to be wrapped.

Disadvantageous in the case of this known wrapping device is not only the significant effort in terms of machinery for producing a divisible guide path for an unwinder but also the modest flexibility of the wrapping method that is capable of being carried out thereby, since this in the case of very flat products, for example, leads to an obviously shorter distance to be covered per revolution by the roll, on account of which it is then no longer guaranteed that the tensile stress in the packaging material can be maintained, such that the tensile stress may collapse upon which the packaging material must bear on the body to be wrapped in an uncontrolled and tensionless manner while forming folds and pockets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a wrapping device and an operating method which is capable of being carried out thereby, requiring significantly less complexity in terms of construction and operation, but enable high variability and flexibility when wrapping bodies of arbitrary dimensions and the most varied size ratios.

By way of the inventive wrapping device a freely selectable revolving path of an unwinder of a film web from a film roll to be unwound about a body to be wrapped or though an opening in such a body to be wrapped, such as through annular products like tires or coils may be enabled, since the guide path of an unwinder is made available by a computer connected thereto. The novel wrapping device enables the movement of an unwinder to be individually adapted to the optimal revolving path about a body to be wrapped, and there is likewise the potential for the unwinder to be able to be moved in a controlled manner directly through an opening in the body to be wrapped.

On account thereof that the guide path is formed by two separate motion systems which in each case are able to move an unwinder in at least two directions (x; y) within one plane, each motion system having an actuatable mounting device for a mounting flange of the unwinder, and the unwinder having two separate mounting flanges, and the wrapping device having a computer by way of which the guide path of the unwinder along a freely determinable revolving path is generatable, and the unwinder after a partial revolution of the revolving path thereof for a further partial revolution is transferable from one motion system to the next motion system, and a full path of the revolving path is generatable by all motion systems, by way of which a revolving path which is adapted to the product contour in an optimal manner can be selected, such that very wide and very thin products may also be wrapped without a film roll having to cover excessively long revolving journeys or the tensile stress in the film roll collapsing.

Moreover, a guide path of an unwinder that is configured as a physical revolving path is completely dispensed with, such that the unwinder may be freely moved in a controlled manner even through openings in a body to be wrapped.

In the case of the inventive wrapping device there are thus no restrictions in terms of product geometry, since the revolving path may be adapted thereto in an optimal manner, and the dimensions of the construction of the wrapping device are likewise very minor, without additional constructive measures being required for particularly wide or flat product geometries. Furthermore, on account of the automatic mounting devices, a changeover of the film roll may also be readily automated. This device thus possesses an optimized displacement path about the product contour and hereby at reduced processing times only requires low energy consumption which ensures constant tension of the wrapping material. Furthermore, the inventive wrapping device enables controlled movement of the unwinder having the film roll through comparatively small openings in bodies to be wrapped or sheathed.

Further advantageous design embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are derived by the following dependent claims and combinations of the latter.

According to one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a motion system is composed of at least two mutually intersecting single-axis linear systems which are capable of relative movement, wherein the latter are disposed for instance at a right angle or at adjustable angles on a cross-table type connection component, such that the mounting device on the two linear systems may be moved in two directions within one plane, on account of which the freely selectable revolving path is enabled.

A motion system may advantageously also be composed of a multi-axis robotic arm, and dissimilar motion systems may also be simultaneously employed in one wrapping device, and various wrapping devices may likewise be equipped with dissimilar mounting devices, gripping devices, or coupling devices, having the adapted mounting flanges or coupling flanges, such that a plurality of kinematics systems and freely selectable subdividing of the displacement paths is overall possible.

In the case of an advantageous arrangement of two motions systems being disposed on either side of a body to be wrapped and of an embodiment of a first linear system of a motion system being configured as a vertical column having a second linear system, adjustable in the vertical direction Y, having a mounting device, displaceable in the horizontal direction X, for an unwinder, a motion sequence of an operating method by way of which an unwinder of a film web may be alternating transferred from one motion system to the other motion system, each of the latter revolving about a partial revolving path of a film roll to be unwound about a body to be wrapped, so as to, after transferring the unwinder, meet the latter again counter to the revolving direction of the unwinder on the other side of the body to be wrapped and to couple thereonto again, such that the respective previous motion system, after having been released, likewise revolves about the body to be wrapped in the opposite direction, so as to acquire the unwinder again on the opposite side.

An embodiment in which the mounting devices, the mounting flanges, and the unwinder have external dimensions which are only so large so as to be capable of being moved in a controlled manner through tight openings of a body to be wrapped and for transferal to be capable of being carried out along a transfer path ‘xÜ’ in, in front of, and/or behind an opening of a body to be wrapped, is particularly preferred.

The inventive wrapping device may advantageously be extended by way of further devices for moving the unwinder also in further spatial directions, for instance in the respective vertical direction Z of the Y-columns in relation to the main directions of movement, rotation of the single-axis linear systems about the longitudinal axes thereof possibly being added thereto.

Preferably, at least one motion system may be moved in a controlled manner to a changeover position of the unwinder for receiving a new film roll, on account of which a changeover of the film is capable of being carried out in a significantly more rapid and reliable manner.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a wrapping device and an operating method for same, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, illustration of a wrapping device while wrapping a coil in a first state of a method according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration showing the wrapping device according to FIG. 1 while wrapping a flat body in a second state of the method; and

FIG. 3 is an illustration showing the wrapping device according to FIG. 2 in a third state of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a wrapping device shown in an exemplary manner that is composed of two separate motion systems 7, each being formed by two single-axis linear systems 10; 11 which are disposed in a cruciform manner and a first linear system 10 of each functions as a vertical column in a vertical direction Y and a second linear system 11 of each is disposed thereon so as to be displaceable in the horizontal direction X, both motion systems 7 being disposed on either side of a body 5; 6 to be wrapped. The mutually facing end sides of the horizontal linear systems 11 are equipped with mounting devices 8 which in turn communicate with mounting flanges 9 of an unwinder 1, such that the latter is movable by way of a motion path generated by a connected computer along a freely selectable revolving path 4 and a constant unwinding tension can be guaranteed for a film web 2 from a film roll 3 to be unwound during the entire wrapping procedure, without there being the risk of part of the film web 2 being able to bear on the body 5; 6 to be wrapped in an uncontrolled and tensionless manner.

During continuous unwinding of the film web 2 from the film roll 3, the unwinder 1 is moved by a first motion system 7, illustrated on the left in the figures, along a first partial revolving path about a body 5;6 to be wrapped, and at the end of the first partial revolving path is transferred to a second motion system 7, illustrated on the right in the figures, which moves the unwinder 1 further along a second partial revolving path about the body 5; 6 to be wrapped, while the first motion system 7 reverses back about the body 5; 6 to be wrapped or meets the second motion system 7 at the end of the second partial revolving path thereof, respectively, and there again acquires the unwinder 1 and again moves toward the first motion system to the end of the first partial revolving path, again acquires the unwinder 1, upon which the operating method is repeated.

Transferring here is performed along a transfer region ‘xÜ’ by automatically coupling the acquiring mounting device 8 to the respective mounting flange 9 of the unwinder 1 and only then subsequently de-coupling the respective other mounting device 8 from the respective mounting flange 9, while the unwinder 1 continuously moves on, such that a loss of tension in the film web 2 may be reliable excluded.

The motion systems 7 may be moved in a controlled manner about bodies 6 of arbitrary shape or else through bodies 5 provided with eyes or openings 12, respectively, wherein transferring of the unwinder 1 may also be performed within or else in front of and/or behind an opening 12.

The speed of movement vR of the in each case free motion system 7 counter to the circumferential direction of the unwinder 1 on the revolving path 4, or along a free reverse path, in the case of only two motion systems 7 is at least up to prior to mutual contact between the mounting devices 8 of the linear system 11 and the mounting flange 9 of the unwinder 1 significantly higher than the circumferential speed vU of the unwinder 1, transferal being established in a transfer region xÜ which is in each case above and below a body 5 or within and below a body 6. In order for the unwinding tension of the film web 2 to be kept constant, the braking torque of the unwinder 1 is modified so as to be proportional to the amount of film material on the film roll 3, since the tensile stress in the case of constant braking torque would increase in an undesirable manner on account of the decreasing radius of the film roll 3 during unwinding. If more than two motion systems 7 are used, the reversing speed vR and also the reversal path may be freely selected.

As is illustrated in FIG. 1, the motion systems 7 may be equipped with additional degrees of freedom in the direction Z, in each case so as to be perpendicular to the directions X and Y, or perpendicular to the sheet plane, respectively, just as right-angled linear systems 10; 11 may be pivotable manually or by motor power about the rotation angles α1 and α2, or the linear systems 10, 11 per se may be embodied so as to be rotatable manually or by motor power about the vertical axes β1 and β2 thereof.

If two or more motion systems 7 are used, the method is carried out such that the first motion system 7, having an unwinder 1 held thereon, during continuous unwinding of the film web 2 from the film roll 3 to be unwound moves the unwinder 1 along a first partial revolving path about a body 5; 6 to be wrapped, and at the end of the first partial revolving path transfers the unwinder 1 to a further motion system 7 which guides the unwinder 1 further along a further partial revolving path about the body 5; 6 to be wrapped, while the first motion system 7 reverses back about the body 5; 6 to be wrapped and meets a last motion system 7, in the case of two motion systems the second motion system, in the case of four motion systems the fourth motion system, toward the end of the last partial revolving path thereof, and then again acquires the unwinder 1, wherein the respective motion system 7 previously used, after having released the unwinder 1, reverses about the partial motion path thereof or on another way, around the body 5; 6 to be wrapped and meets the respective previous motion system 7 toward the end of the partial revolving path thereof and acquires the unwinder 1, such that the latter after having passed through all partial revolving paths of all motion systems revolves about a closed revolving path 4. 

1. A wrapping device for guiding an unwinder for unwinding a film web from a film roll to be unwound along a revolving path about a body to be wrapped, the wrapping device comprising: at least two separate motion systems forming a guide path and in each case able to move the unwinder in at least two directions within one plane, each of said motion systems having an actuatable mounting device for receiving a mounting flange of the unwinder, the unwinder having two separate mounting flanges; and a computer by way of which the guide path for the unwinder along a freely determinable revolving path is generatable, the unwinder after a partial revolution of the freely determinable revolving path is transferable from one of said motion systems to a next one of said motion systems for a continued partial revolution of the freely determinable revolving path, and a full revolution of the freely determinable revolving path is generatable by all of said motion systems.
 2. The wrapping device according to claim 1, wherein each of said motion systems is composed of at least two mutually intersecting single-axis linear systems which are capable of relative movement.
 3. The wrapping device according to claim 2, wherein said at least two linear systems intersect at a right angle or at adjustable angles.
 4. The wrapping device according to claim 1, wherein each of said motion systems has a multi-axis robotic arm.
 5. The wrapping device according to claim 1, wherein said two motion systems are disposed on either side of the body to be wrapped.
 6. The wrapping device according to claim 1, wherein: each of said motion systems contains a first linear system and a second linear system; said first linear system is configured as a vertical column; and said second linear system is adjustable in a vertical direction, has said actuatable mounting device for engaging the unwinder, and is displaceable in a horizontal direction.
 7. The wrapping device according to claim 1, wherein said actuatable mounting device and the unwinder with the mounting flanges thereof is guidable in a controlled manner through openings of the body to be wrapped, and a transferal is capable of being carried out along a transfer path in, in front of, and/or behind the opening of the body to be wrapped.
 8. The wrapping device according to claim 1, wherein said motion systems are equipped with further devices for moving the unwinder also in other spatial directions.
 9. The wrapping device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said motion systems is capable of being moved in a controlled manner to a changeover position of the unwinder for receiving a new film roll.
 10. An operating method for a wrapping device, which comprises the step of: providing a first motion system having an unwinder mounted thereon, the unwinder performing a continuous unwinding of a film web from a film roll to be unwound; moving the unwinder, via the first motion system, along a first partial revolving path about a body to be wrapped; transferring the unwinder to a second motion system at an end of the first partial revolving path, the second motion system guiding the unwinder along a second partial revolving path leading further about the body to be wrapped, while the first motion system reverses about the body to be wrapped and meets the second motion system near an end of the second partial revolving path thereof and again acquires the unwinder, upon which the second motion system that has previously been in operation, after having released the unwinder, reverses along the second partial revolving path thereof, about the body to be wrapped and meets the first motion system near the end of the first partial revolving path thereof, and again acquires the unwinder, such that the unwinder after having passed through all partial revolving paths runs around a closed revolving path.
 11. The operating method according to claim 10, which further comprises performing the transferring by automatic coupling of a mounting device to a mounting flange of the unwinder and by subsequent releasing of a respective other mounting device from a second mounting flange of the unwinder.
 12. The operating method according to claim 10, which further comprises keeping constant a revolving speed of the unwinder during transferring along a transfer region.
 13. The operating method according to claim 10, wherein a revolving speed of the unwinder along the first and second partial revolving paths is kept constant or is varied.
 14. The operating method according to claim 11, which further comprises moving mounting devices of the first and second motion systems in a controlled manner through an eye or an opening of the body to be wound, and the transferring is performed within, in front of and/or behind the opening. 